Acetylene-gas generator.



No. 677,452. Patented July 2, mm. H. A. HOLMES;

ACETYLENE GAS GEN ERATDR.

Application filed May 13, 1899.) (80 Model. 2 SheetsSheet l.

51mm (E 1% E /7776.5,

No. 677,452. Patented luly 2, NHL H. A. HOLMES.

ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR.

Application filed May 13, 1899.)

ms uonms PETERS co. Puorournm wuumarcu. a. c.

NITED STATES rrrcE.

ATENT ACETYLENE-GAS GENERATOR.

SPEGIFIGATIQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 677,452, dated July 2, 1901.

Application filed May 13, 1899. Serial No. 716,628. (No model) To a, whont it may concern:

Be it known that I, HORACE A. HOLMES, a citizen of the United States,-residing at Mauton in the county of lVeXford and State of Michigamhave invented certain new and useful Improvements in Acetylene-Gas Generators; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certain novel improvements in automatic acetylene-gas generators; and the object is to simplify the construction and increase the efficiency of the device and provide a reliable, safe, and efficient automatic generator.

To this end the invention consists in certain features of construction and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of an acetylene-gas generator embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the same. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views.

In the drawings the generator consistsof a cylindrical shell 1 and an inner concentric shell 2, provided with a bottom 3, forming a water-chamber at to receive the bell 5, which is provided with a handle 5, having extensions 5 5 which engage the keepers 5 5 0m the tank to retain the bell in place, and thus form a gas-tight joint between the cover and the shell 1.

6 denotes a horizontal shelf or bottom for the shell 2, and it supports the carbid-pail 7, formed with a concentric series of segmental pockets 7 one of which is bottomless to permit the passage of the vertical pipes 9 and 10. The partitions 7 between the pockets 7 are formed with notches 7 at their tops, so that as water is poured into the first pocket the water will flow into the next succeeding pocket as soon as the calcium carbid is slaked in the preceding one.

The gas-holder B consists of a water-tank C and a floating bell D. The hoods 11 11 11 in the top of the hell are to allow the entrance of the open ends of the pipes 10 to 14 and 16, when the bell sinks to its lowest point.

12 denotes a central guide-pipe, and 13 a telescoping tube or sleeve sliding over the guide-pipe and insuring an easy vertical movementof the bell.

14c denotes the exhaust-pipe, over which the pipe 15 slides, and this latter pipe 15 is provided with a series of orifices 15 a few inches from its lower end, so as to prevent the escape of gas into the room should the bell receive an overcharge of gas, as under such circumstances the bell would rise until the orifices 15 were above the water-level in the tank 0, and the excess of gas would then escape through said orifices and the exhaust- .pipe 14, which communicates with the horizontal pipe 14, and this latter in turn with the vertical escape-pipe 14 which opens into the atmosphere outside of the room or building in which the machine is located.

10 represents the intake-pipe leading from the generator to the holder, and itis provided with a three-way valve 16, which has a lateral connection 16 communicating with the escape-pipe 143. In opening or closing the generator this valve 16 is first turned so as to close or cut off communication with the holder and open communication between the generator and the escape-pipe 14?,thus allowing any gas in the generator to escape out of doors and also givingavent for opening and closing the generator. In order to insure this three-way valve or cook 16 being turned off so as to close all communication between the generator and the gas-holder when about to recharge the generator, I provide this cook 16 with a vertical stem 16, which terminates in a lateral horizontal handle l6 ,which when the cock is open extends across the top of the hell 5, so that this handle must be turned and the valve 16 closed before the bell can be removed. As the three-way valve 16 shuts off communication with the gas-holder, the generator can be safely opened at any time and recharged with calcic carbid while the lights are burning.

16 denotes the service-pipe provided with a controlling-valve 16 17 denotes the drip-chamber located beneath the tank 0, and 10 and 16 denote extensions of the gas-pipes 10 and 16, which extend down into the drip-chamber six inches under water to conduct off the water of condensationcarriedover from the generator by the gas.

As a means of safety the escape-pipe 14 remains open in the drip-chamber to conduct off any gas which may accumulate in the dripchamber so that if the bell should beheld down from any cause untila six-inch gaspressure should result the gas would escape through the pipes 10 and 16 into the airchamber above and reach the open air through the exhaust-pipe.

17 denotes the drainage and fillingvpipe for the drip-chamber, and by means of this openous changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or-sacri ficing any of the advantagesofthisinvention.

ended pipe a uniform water-level is maintained in the drip-chamber.

E denotes the Water-tank for supplying water to the carbid in the generator, and for this-purpose-it isprovided withapipe'i), pronature-of my invention, what I claim, and 'desire to secure by LettersPa-tent of theUnited States, is-

vided with a cock 9 and communicating with the pipe 9 leading into the generator. The cock 9 isprovided: with a bifurcated operating-lever 9 which engages a lateral pin" 9 I nation with the generator'and'gasometerliav on the vertical rod 9 secured by the-thumbscrew 9 to a bracket 9 fixed on topot' thebell D. The lower end ofth'is rod 9 has-a vertical movementin the fixed guide 9 the operation being such that thebell' in falling opens-the cock 9 and: ad mits water to thecarbid-and the resulting gas causes the bell to rise andautomatically closeth'e cock-and shut off'the'supply of water.

In order topreventfi'ooding the generator,

a measuring device isplaced in thew-atertank E. lt cons-ists of a pocket 20, holding enough water tofill only one or two of the compartments in the carbid-pail.

the pock-etnear its bottom and through which" This-pocket isclosed entirely, except the pipe 9, the vent= 1 pipe-21, and the small orifices 22, formed in the water in the tank finds its-way into the pocket. Itwill thus be understoodthat when the bell falls and opens the cock 9 the ventpipe 21: allows the entire contents of the pocket to be rapidly drawn ofi, after which the small orifices 22 in the pocket restrict the flow of water from the tank into the pocket until the bell sinks low enough to close the water-valve. The generator-tank is attached to the gas-tank by the usual bridge-straps 23 23, and the usual filling-lips B B, as shown, are provided for both generator and gas tank.

It will of course be understood that Vari- Having thus described and asoertainedtlie In an'acetylene-gas generator, the combiing a movable bell; of a water-supply tank,

a chamber or compartment within the-same,

I a pipe leading from said chamber to the generator, and a valve in said pipe" adaptedv to be-controlledby the movement of the-bell} said chamberhavin g asma-ll openingintothe main tank, whereby it is gradually refilled when emptied, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto-set my hand in presence of twosubscribihgwit nesses.

HORACE A. HOLMES;-

\Vitnesses;

CHAS, UTTER, EZRA HARGEBLI 

